PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robert Nichols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalifornian Kakara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kakara has chosen The Suitmen plays Lady Gaga as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nichols
vs
Kakara

196 cm
21
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
165 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalifornian Kakara!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kakara misses with a wild combination.
Kakara pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kakara misses with a leg kick
and Nichols counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nichols uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kakara.
Kakara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kakara lands a left and a right that send Nichols crashing to the mat, dazed. Kakara thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Nichols is rocked!
Nichols tries for a takedown but Kakara circles away easily
and Kakara counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nichols ducks under a wild hook from Kakara.
Kakara lands with a good body shot.
Nichols is breathing heavily.
Kakara throws the kick towards the body but Nichols avoids it.
Kakara misses with a head kick.
Nichols avoids the head kick by Kakara.
Kakara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kakara throws a head kick but Nichols moves out of range.
Kakara lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nichols circles away quickly and effectively.
Kakara throws a series of punches but Nichols avoids them all with ease.
Kakara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nichols shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kakara pinned against the cage. Kakara gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Kakara misses

and Nichols counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kakara!
Nichols controlling from the full mount.
You get the feeling that Kakara really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Kakara bucks Nichols off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakara throws a nice looking combination but Nichols bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nichols fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kakara throws a push kick but Nichols slaps the foot to one side.
Nichols fails with a takedown attempt.

Nichols shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kakara is trying to stand up here but Nichols is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is just content to waste time from the top position. Kakara takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Kakara manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kakara throws out a leg kick but Nichols moves out of range and Kakara only half commits.
Nichols has his takedown stuffed
and Kakara counters with a series of strikes. Nichols will be more careful next time no doubt.

It looks like Robert Nichols has been cut.
Kakara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nichols.
Kalifornian Kakara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nichols shoots in looking for a takedown but Kakara manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nichols's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nichols shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kakara as he jumps to the side.
Kakara looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kakara pinned against the cage. Kakara gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kakara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kakara throws a series of punches but Nichols moves out of range.
Nichols shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kakara sprawls well. Kakara wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nichols gets slowly back to his feet.
Nichols showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kakara.
Nichols fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kakara avoids it really well and circles away.
Nichols avoids a punch combination nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kakara throws a head kick that misses

and Nichols counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nichols.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Kakara uses the cage to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalifornian Kakara dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robert Nichols's cut.
That's time! Nichols's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A combination from Kakara does no damage.
Kakara throws a body kick the misses

so Nichols counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nichols trying to control but Kakara is working from the bottom.

Kakara is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Kakara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Robert Nichols is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nichols shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kakara counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kakara looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nichols has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kakara throws a right hand that Nichols ducks under and follows up with a left that Nichols also avoids with ease.
Nichols blocks a head kick by Kakara.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kakara.
Kakara misses with a series of wild punches.
Nichols takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kakara motions for Nichols to come forward. Kakara throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kakara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nichols.
Nichols displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kakara throws out the jab.
Kalifornian Kakara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kakara lands a leg kick that knocks Nichols off balance momentarily.
Kakara misses with a jab to the body

and Nichols counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nichols.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholsis looking to pass into half guard but Kakara pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kakara is in guard.
Nichols looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kakara puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nichols has a hand on Kakara's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kakara takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Kakara is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Kakara throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakara scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A head kick by Kakara misses

and Nichols counters with a shoot takedown. Kakara fights it but they end up in guard.
Nichols trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kakara's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nichols trying to control the position from guard on top but Kakara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kakara wants to stand up but Nichols is controlling him.
Robert Nichols overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Kakara has his feet on Nichols's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kakara misses with a double jab

and Nichols counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kakara's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nichols wants to stand and escape but instead Kakara has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nichols wants to hit a switch here but Kakara passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nichols there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Nichols dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Robert Nichols's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kakara misses with a wild body shot.
Kakara throws a head kick but Nichols moves out of range.
Kakara misses with a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Kakara as Nichols shoots in.
Kakara misses with a series of wild punches.
Kakara misses with a combination

and Nichols counters with a single leg into guard. Kakara didn't expect that.
Nichols wants to control from the top but Kakara keeps moving.
Kakara avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols is looking to work some ground and pound but Kakara has wrist control.
Nichols missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nichols has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kakara is proving hard to escape from.
Kakara is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nichols looking to sit in guard and control but Kakara gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nichols throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Kakara postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kakara stands up and waves to Nichols to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakara finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kakara scores with a push kick.
Kakara is looking to land body kicks.
Nichols stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kakara.
Kakara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kakara buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A punch combination from Kakara misses.
Kakara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nichols blocks a head kick by Kakara.
Nice sprawl there from Kakara as Nichols shoots in.
Kakara misses with the body kick
and Nichols counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kakara throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols looks for a takedown but Kakara sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kakara lands a nice shot to the body.
Kakara throws a head kick that misses

and Nichols decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kakara's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nichols tries to stand but Kakara is controlling from the bottom.
Kakara keeping full guard, as Nichols tries to pass.
Nichols looking to sit in guard and control but Kakara gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kalifornian Kakara.
I think Kakara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!